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On June 1,
representatives from 35 Permanent Observer countries met for a
luncheon at the Hotel Intercontinental in San Pedro Sula,
Honduras with the Heads of Delegation of the 34 Member States of
the OAS and the Assistant Secretary General to dialogue on the
cooperation between the Permanent Observers and the
Organization, as well as to discuss points of interest relating
to this topic of this year’s General Assembly, “Toward a Culture
of Nonviolence.” The Dialogue began with introductory remarks by
the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Honduras, Patricia Licona Cubero, who offered her welcome on
behalf of Honduras and invited the Permanent Observer
participants to exchange opinions and points of view with the
Member States and Assistant Secretary General on themes of the
Inter-American Agenda. Assistant Secretary General Albert
Ramdin, then provided a brief overview of the role Observers
play in the Organization, noting that the Permanent Observers in
2008 contributed a total of US$25.8 million in cash, and
US$354,732 in kind – an increase of 21.4% from 2007 – and
provided contributions in all areas of the OAS, ranging from
democracy promotion, security, human rights and development.
Moderated by Vice
Minister Licona, the Dialogue saw interventions from the
following Permanent Observers: Spain, France, Italy, Germany,
China, Ireland, Korea, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Israel, the
European Commission, the United Kingdom, Austria, Finland,
Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Japan, Egypt, Belgium, the Russian
Federation, and Nigeria. The Observers spoke on everything from
the theme of the Assembly, their historic levels of
contribution, collaboration between the OAS and other regional
organizations, as well as offered pledges on their contributions
for 2009-2010. Most representatives remarked that their
financial contributions are still to be determined, but
committed themselves to maintaining their presence within the
Organization and to supporting, as best and as often as
possible, the work of the OAS in all technical areas.
Additionally, the
Dialogue saw remarks from representatives of the OAS Member
States of: Colombia, Chile, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and
Jamaica. All the Heads of Delegation of the OAS Member States
praised the Permanent Observers for their commitment to
supporting the peoples of the Americas through the programs of
the OAS. In thanking the Observers for both their moral and
financial contributions to the OAS, the Member States called on
the Observers to increase their contributions even in times of
crisis. Indeed, they addressed how the issue of nonviolence in
particular should mobilize the Observers to increase their
presence within the Organization as such an issue transcends
borders and impacts the entire world.
The Dialogue
closed with short remarks by Vice Minister Licona and Ambassador
Ramdin, who once again lauded the efforts of the Permanent
Observers in engaging with the Hemisphere through the
Organization’s initiatives, and assured them that their
contributions are truly significant to improving the lives of
the peoples of the Americas. |
